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Haru felt nervous, doing her best to keep herself from wringing her hands together or from tugging at the hem of her gym uniform jacket. Today was supposed to be like any other day. She was supposed to just go to school, tend to the garden on the rooftop, maybe chat with Ren if he came by despite still hiding away and pretending that he was dead.
Her heart ached far too much at that thought, but now was not the time to linger on how she felt that night. Ren was alive, he came by to see how she was doing and. . .
And she needed his help more than ever.
Haru turned when she heard the door to the school’s roof open, a relieved smile on her face as Ren approached and pushed his hood back. She always felt much more relaxed when he would come by, unable to deny to herself that she felt special. After all, she knew how busy their leader was, so for him to take the time out of his day to come by and see her was-
“Everything okay?” Ren said, his voice cutting through the thoughts currently darting around her head. “You’re gripping the hem of your jacket really tightly.”
“O-oh, um!” Haru released her jacket, blushing faintly. “I guess I was just. . . Thinking about that appointment I’ve got set up to meet with Takakura-san to talk with him. . .” No use hiding her feelings on the matter from Ren after all, since he had been with her during this entire situation already and had been so encouraging to her.
“Right, you were texting me about that earlier. When were you able to set up the meeting with him anyway?”
Haru made a sound before looking up at Ren, giving in and beginning to wring her hands together. “I managed to arrange it for today. It was the only day that he had available, and I expressed that it was an important matter so. . . So I couldn’t allow him to delay the meeting.”
“Wait, today?”
Haru nodded, hesitating for a moment before reaching out to grasp one of Ren’s hands between both of hers. “Please say that you’ll accompany me. I know that you can’t exactly show yourself right now, but. . . I feel like I would be much more reassured if you were there by my side, Ren.”
Her blush from earlier returned tenfold when Ren reached out with his free hand to gently grasp her chin and tilt her head up, forcing her to meet his gaze. The smile he wore was so gentle, so. . . So loving, that it made her heart feel like it was going to burst from her chest.
“I’d be more than happy to join you, Haru. You go change and then we can head out to meet with him, okay?”
“Ah- y-yes, of course!”
***
She couldn’t have hoped for more, really. The meeting was going well, Takakura was actually listening to her, inviting her to the next company meeting and-
“It seems I made yet another misunderstanding.”
Haru stared at Takakura blankly, confusion clear in her eyes. “I. . . I’m sorry? Takakura-san, I don’t think I quite follow. What misunderstanding?”
Takakura chuckled, looking pointedly between her and Ren. . . Who was also holding her hand and rubbing circles against her palm as a way to soothe her and keep her from freaking out too much.
“I was under the impression that you were quite thrilled about the arrangement with Sugimura-kun.”
Haru’s skin crawled at the mention of her abusive fiancé, at the thought that she could have ever been thrilled at being with someone who saw her as nothing more than a body he could use for his own pleasure. She felt Ren’s hold on her hand tighten briefly, though the soothing circles against her palm never once stopped. Knowing that he was here supporting her was more than what she needed right now.
“That supposed thrill is the entire reason I tried to hurry with the marriage between you two. I wanted you to have all the support that you needed, but. . .” Takakura shook his head, smiling faintly. “But it appears as though you prefer the young man beside you instead.”
“H-huh?!”
Haru’s face burned, cheeks flushing with a brilliant blush as the weight of Takaura’s words sunk in. He thought that she and Ren were- But she hadn’t even-! And what if Ren didn’t-?
“What are your thoughts on Sugimura-kun?”
“Ah. . . He is intelligent, but. . . He’s also cruel and clearly only has his own desires in mind. I tried numerous times to break off the marriage as I do not want to be his wife, but he told me that the contract he and Father had put together kept me trapped in it,” Haru said, sitting back down. She leaned into Ren’s side, the aroma of coffee and curry wrapping around her life a comforting blanket.
If Ren was the one she was in a marriage contract with, then maybe. . .
“I’ve never seen this document, Haru-chan. If you give me some time, I can ensure that this entire thing will be annulled before it can even become official. I think I’d not like to cut off your path right as you begin to find your way after all,” Takakura said, grabbing his coffee cup to drink those last few drops. “I’ll be sure to keep you updated on it, but I will promise you this. You will not be marrying Sugimura-kun.”
Haru turned her gaze to look at Takakura, smiling brightly. “Thank you, Takakura-san!”
Takakura took his leave after that, once more reiterating that he would ensure no marriage would occur between Haru and Sugimura and promising to see her again during the next company meeting.
Which just left Haru alone with Ren, his hand still holding hers and her heart now beating away in her chest.
“Takakura-san said such strange things during this meeting, didn’t he? H-he made the claim th-that I like you. . . Why would he even say that? Wh-what gave him the idea that I like you and. . .” Haru pressed her lips together, looking down at their still joined hands before lifting her gaze to meet Ren’s own.
Warm brown met cool grey, Haru’s cheeks still pink from earlier. She felt like her mouth had gone dry, her lips parting as she tried to think of something, of anything else to say. But all she could do was stare blankly at Ren for a bit, her mind wandering back to how she had felt when he first saved her from Sugimura, how those feelings just kept growing and growing like a garden of flowers just ready to burst forth from her chest. Sometimes it felt suffocating, keeping those feelings buried within.
But if there was a chance, then-
“What do you think, Ren-kun?”
Haru wasn’t expecting Ren to lean in closer to her, causing her position to shift. She ended up laying back on the couch, propped up by her elbows with Ren hovering above her. She could feel his breath ghosting across her lips, her blush darkening when Ren brought a hand to her cheek, the backs of his fingers brushing so gently across her skin.
Like he was touching something so rare and delicate, like he was touching something that he just wanted to treasure.
“I like you, too, Haru,” he finally replied, lips brushing against her own as he spoke. He was smiling at her again, once more giving her that feeling that she was something that he treasured. Wait!
Liked her? He liked her, too?!
“D-do you. . . Really mean that? I-if this is a joke, then-!”
Haru’s words were cut off by Ren’s mouth covering hers in a searing kiss, a weak moan falling from her as she returned the kiss. Her hands came up to hold Ren’s face, like she was trying to pull him closer to her, wanting to forget where she ended and where he began.
It wasn’t just her then. It wasn’t just her heart that had been captured. Somehow, she had managed to capture the heart of the leader of the Phantom Thieves.
She would deny whining when Ren broke the kiss, but she was thankful for the chance to take a few breaths. She giggled when Ren kissed her cheek, hands shifting so she could run them through his hair.
“You know, I had different plans for us today, but. . . This still worked out for me, in the end,” Ren said, chuckling softly.
Haru made a sound, confused by his statement. “Did it?” She didn’t even know he had plans for them today. Actually, what could he have planned for-
She shivered suddenly, Ren’s lips right by her ear as he spoke to her in a low voice.
“Happy birthday, Haru. I love you.”